Playstation 2 Games - ranked by preference

Release Date: August 22, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: DMA Design
Genre: Action

I'll admit it - I didn't think that this game would be anything special. I had played Driver 2 and thought that it was alright, but was disappointed overall by the result. The Grand Theft Auto series wasn't as critically acclaimed as Driver, so I was expecting a similar result...Instead I got absolutely blown away. Whether you were working on the main story, working side jobs, collecting packages, or just wandering around doing nothing...It was all fun. Today, I know the streets of GTA III's Liberty City better than I know most of the streets around my neighborhood from playing this game so much. I also take great pride in the fact that I perfected flying the Dodo, often wowing my college roommates with 20-30 minute joyrides in the skies above Liberty City.

Release Date: November 27, 2004 (JP)
Publisher: SquareEnix
Developer: Level 5
Genre: RPG

I had always preferred Final Fantasy to Dragon Quest...Then came Dragon Quest VIII, a game that mixes the things I love about the RPGs of old with some more "modern" gameplay elements and an absolutely gorgeous graphical design and beautiful soundtrack, and my allegiance switched sides. I absolutely love how when you exit town and enter the world map for the first time, you quickly realize that you're not thrust into a top-down view of a mini character walking around the world...The world map exploration is just as big as everything in the towns, really giving you a sense of how enormous the world is in this 75+ hour game. There aren't many games, RPG or otherwise, that I enjoy more than this gem.

Release Date: July 10, 2008 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

I absolutely love Persona 4. I love Persona 3 as well, for that matter. For a long time I've debated which game I like better. I generally prefer darker stories, like the one found in Persona 3...But the characters in Persona 4 are all just so likeable that I can't help but give Persona 4 the nod. On top of the awesome characters, Atlus also added several tweaks and improvements to the gameplay system introduced in Persona 3 to create what many people consider to be the best RPG on the Playstation 2. The old school gamer in me still considers Dragon Quest VIII to be the best on the system...But if Persona 4 is second place, it's not by much. If you haven't played this yet, I highly suggest giving it a try. I bet you'll be glad you did.

Release Date: December 22, 2005 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Aspect
Genre: Action

Subsistence is more than a simple re-release of Snake Eater...It includes a new camera system which, in itself, makes it a better game overall than it already was. On top of that, a plethora of extras like new Snake vs. Monkey mode stages, extra camo and face paint for Snake, connectivity with Metal Gear Acid 2 on the PSP, and a multiplayer mode that allows up to eight people to battle for supremacy online. It's also got the MSX versions of the original two Metal Gear games, making this, like I stated in the beginning, so much more than a simple re-release. It made one of my favorite games even better and tossed in a bunch of extras to boot - Konami went above and beyond with this game.

Release Date: February 20, 2003 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Persona 2 was my introduction to the Shin Megami Tensei universe, but Nocturne was the game that solidified the fact that the SMT games would become one of my favorite game franchises. From a gameplay standpoint, Nocturne really knocks everything out of the park...From the fun aspect of exploiting the weakness of your enemies in combat, to having conversations with demons in an attempt to get them to join you, to fusing your demon allies to create stronger demons to team with...It's all just done so well. The end result is a game that I played obsessively until I have obtained every demon and seen every inch of every aspect that this game has to offer...I love it that much.

Release Date: March 22, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: SCE Santa Monica
Genre: Action

I was skeptical of God of War before I first played it. A friend of mine gave it a perfect 10 out of 10 on the website we were working on, but it just sounded like a repetitive hack 'n' slash title to me...Then I played it. Within the first few minutes, you're thrust into an awesome boss fight against a giant hydra...It set the stage for an amazing experience from beginning to end. The game only has one flaw - the Hades columns. But aside from that minor part of the game, God of War is absolutely amazing from your first boss fight to the last.

Release Date: April 19, 2007 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Persona 3 FES is the Persona 3 we all know and love, but with some new demons and the like tossed in. Also, the story from Persona 3 is now a mode called "The Journey" with a second mode, which is an epilogue with Aegis called "The Answer" also playable. The Answer plays like the regular Persona 3 game, but without Social Links or the need to attend school. In other words, dungeon crawling goodness. So, FES is Persona 3 with enough extras to justify a purchase for the Persona nuts (like myself) out there.

Release Date: July 13, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Persona 3 was a big change in the Persona series. You no longer had control over your allies in battle and, your allies were unable to change their personae like the protagonist. Also new was the unique aspect of managing your time between going to school, hanging out with friends, and battling shadows - all of which have a significant impact on the game. It sounds complicated, but it's all done extremely well. This game, probably more so than any other Shin Megami Tensei title, is the one that put the SMT franchise on the map in North America.

Release Date: October 25, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Action - Horror

Resident Evil 4 was a drastic change in the Resident Evil series, switching from a slow-paced adventure-style gameplay to a much faster, action-oriented gameplay. The result was what some call the best game to come out in the last decade. I wouldn't quite go that far, but it is easily in the top 5. Running from a man with a sack on his head wielding a chainsaw is the part I remember most from this game...The anxiety I felt was nothing like I felt in previous entries in the franchise's history...And the fact that it played like a dream only helped matters. If you haven't played it yet, do so. Without exaggerating, this is one of the best games not just on the Playstation 2, but of all-time. The PS2 version includes some extras not found in the original Gamecube version, but is mostly the same game.

Release Date: July 11, 2002 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: KCET
Genre: RPG

I love Suikoden II...I think it might be the best game in the series...But, when it comes to preference, Suikoden III is my favorite. It's odd because I wasn't much of a fan of Suikoden III when I first played it...But each time I played it, I enjoyed it more and more and learned to appreciate it more and more. From the art direction to the soundtrack to the five-way story arc (technically six if you count wandering around as a dog as another arc)...even to the neat concept of occasionally running into an enemy much stronger than you are...I just really, really love this game. If you haven't played it yet, you need to see a quack....Literally. There's ducks in this game. Play it and see them. Thank me later.

Release Date: October 27, 2002 (NA)
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar North
Genre: Action

With the massive success of Grand Theft Auto III, Rockstar thought it would be best to follow it up with a game based in Vice City, a parody of 80's Miami. I can't really argue with that decision. This was the Grand Theft Auto formula that took the gaming world by storm, with the dingy colors of III traded for the pastel hues of the 80's. Add in one of the nicest soundtracks in the history of gaming, the ability to drive motorcycles, and a few other little touches and tweaks, improving the overall gameplay, and you've got a fantastic prequel that any fan of sandbox-style games will love.

Release Date: September 15, 2005 (JP)
Publisher: Agetec Inc.
Developer: S-Neo
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

Much like how top independent wrestling promotions like CHIKARA and Ring of Honor fly under the radar of most casual wrestling fans, Fire Pro Wrestling Returns flew under the radar of most casual wrestling fan gamers, who flocked to the better-known and better-looking WWE Smackdown vs. Raw games. If you're a fan of independent wrestling or can name the current IWGP champion or think of lucha libre when you hear the term "Octagon" instead of geometry, then Fire Pro Wrestling Returns is the wrestling game for you. The steep learning curve hides a very nice wrestling engine created to simulate a match with a methodical pacing. Taking it even further, the computer AI can be modified to extreme levels, for each individual wrestler (of which you can have over 800 on a single game save), down to how often each move is used, making it a tremendous simulator as well, allowing players to watch dream matches. There really isn't enough space for me to type everything about this game...It looks like it's a couple generations behind graphically...But as far as customization and innovation goes, it's easily a few generations ahead.

Release Date: October 4, 2004 (NA)
Publisher: Midway
Developer: Midway
Genre: Fighting

Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance was a good, solid revival of the Mortal Kombat franchise. Deception made it clear that Midway was aiming to make it one of the best fighting games of all time. With the same, solid fighting engine and system, Deception adds an open-world Konquest mode, allowing players to wander around in the various realms of the Mortal Kombat universe. The mode, while not perfect, has a decent length to it and is deceptively (pun intended) deep. With hidden items and characters only appearing in certain locations at certain times and a bunch of side-quests to do, Konquest mode will keep you busy for a long, long time. To make Deception even sweeter, also included are two mini-games - Puzzle Kombat, a variation of Capcom's Puzzle Fighter, and Chess Kombat, a slightly strategic game of chess with one-on-one fights when your pawn tries to take your opponent's rook or any similar scenario. Overall, this was an amazing overall package when it came out and it still holds up pretty well today. It's one of my favorite fighting games of all time and I highly recommend it to fans of the genre.

Release Date: November 12, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action

I remember Metal Gear Solid 2 came out shortly after I had begun college. I barely had money to eat after tuition and book fees....But I didn't care. I bought this game and gladly enjoyed my bread-and-water meals as I stayed up for over twenty-four hours to play it from beginning to end. The game itself had, quite possibly, the biggest surprise in video game history. And I'm about to spoil it here...If you haven't heard about it, skip to the next game. The introduction of Raiden, taking the place of Solid Snake for the majority of the game, was never leaked out until the date the game hit store shelves. While I never really had a problem with Raiden, most folks (aside from the Japanese folk, from what I've heard) hated him. But love him or hate him, he starred in a pretty nice game here, and one that I've played over multiple times since its release.

Release Date: March 13, 2003 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Fighting

Virtua Fighter 4 was a great fighting game in its own right...And they could have left it at that. However, Sega had different ideas. Instead of releasing a plain, ol' Greatest Hits title of Virtua Fighter 4, they decided to add to and improve upon the game and release that as the Greatest Hits version at $20. The end result was Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution, which was, without question, the greatest 3D fighting game ever made up to that point. The Quest mode alone, which has you going from arcade to arcade to challenge other players in order to increase your "rank," was the greatest mode in a fighting game, in my opinion, since Street Fighter Alpha 3's World Tour mode. It created replayability previously unheard of in a fighting game. The fighting itself, which was near perfect in the original VF4 was tweaked as well, making it about as close to perfection as one could hope for. Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution was a landmark title and still influences many fighting games being released today.

Release Date: March 28, 2002 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG - Action

Oh man, prior to playing it for a bit recently to nab screenshots for this list, I haven't played Kingdom Hearts in about a decade. Once I got to Traverse Town and heard the background music, it felt like I had just played it yesterday. The nostalgia here hits certain folks like myself on two levels - remembering all the Disney cartoons I watched as a kid, and remembering all of the Squaresoft games I played as a teen. Nostalgia aside, which admittedly is a big reason why I love this game, Kingdom Hearts isn't perfect - platforming can sometimes be a nightmare due to a not-always-cooperative camera and the Gummi ship sequences (which I don't really mind) seem to infuriate some folks...But there's much more good here than bad. I guess simple and clean is the way that this game makes me feel....Sorry, I'll show myself out.

Release Date: March 18, 2004 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Now Production
Genre: Action

Katamari Damacy was such a unique game when it came out. I remember picking up Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas at the store, seeing this game with its bizarre cover art and low price tag, and buying it along with San Andreas. Mid-way through playing San Andreas, I decided to give this game a try....I never got back to the Grand Theft Auto title. Katamari Damacy absolutely hooked me with the simple gameplay mechanic of rolling up anything and everything in sight. Few things in gaming are as satisfying as rolling up enough thumbtacks and caramel candies to make your katamari large enough to roll up that jerk mouse that sent you flying across the level earlier.

Release Date: October 27, 2003 (NA)
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

While I prefer Smackdown! 2 to Here Comes the Pain, it's only slightly so...and my preference aside, Here Comes the Pain is very much the better game. It was the last great game in the WWE franchise, in my opinion, and the only recent game that has come even close to matching it was WWE 13. It just gets everything right...And the Season mode, much like the one in Smackdown! 2, just keeps going. Taking Ultimo Dragon to the World title is also an added plus. You can also make John Cena humble like in the screenshot above, if you so desire. If you want a WWE game for your Playstation 2, this is the one to get by far.

Release Date: June 18, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: Incognito Inc.
Genre: Action - Car Combat

The first two Twisted Metal games were great. Twisted Metal 3, 4, and Small Brawl...Not so much. So, when Twisted Metal Black was released, I expected a sub-par game...Instead we got what I consider to be the best game in the series as well as the best car combat game of all-time. Not only was the action fast and furious, but the dark, disturbing storylines for each character were absolutely awesome. This game also works well with an old pick-up line - Once you go Black, you never go back.

Release Date: October 17, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar Toronto
Genre: Action - Brawler

I'm a pretty huge fan of the film, so when Rockstar released this game based off of the cult classic, I was very much looking forward to it. It didn't disappoint, either. The Warriors has everything you'd want and more, like countless gangs to encounter, including the popular Baseball Furies. It also was the first game to successfully bring a similar, quality experience of games like Streets of Rage and Final Fight into a 3D world. It's definitely a personal favorite of mine.

Release Date: November 7, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: RedOctane
Developer: Harmonix Music Systems
Genre: Music

Japan had Guitar Freaks, with a guitar controller, for years before Guitar Hero introduced North Americans to a similar concept. While I bet that Harmonix knew they'd have a hit on their hands while making this simple, yet great music game, I don't think that they had any idea how insanely popular the series would become. Before Activision got their grubby paws on the franchise and oversaturated the market, like they like to do, the original Guitar Hero was absolutely fantastic. If you're one of the few that have never played a Guitar Hero game, do yourself a favor and give it a go. You'll quickly understand why it was all the rage a few years back.

Release Date: March 27, 2008 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: M2
Genre: Compilation

In my opinion, the Phantasy Star games often get overlooked when people mention the best RPG franchises. That's not right, friends. All of the original, turn-based Phantasy Star games are either good or great, and you've got them all in this one collection. If you understand Japanese and are a fan of RPGs, then this compilation is a must-buy. We do have alternatives in North America - Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection has all three Genesis Phantasy Stars with the original Master System Phantasy Star as an unlockable extra. But, PS2 owners in Japan got all four Phantasy Star games in one package about a year earlier, and without any other games hogging the spotlight.

Release Date: October 17, 2006 (NA)
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar Vancouver
Genre: Action

Bully got stupid, jump-to-conclusion-type peoples' undies in a wad since they assumed that the game involved you controlling a child that simply bullied and beat up other children, among other, inappropriate behavior. I remember folks in my family believing that this game could re-create a school shooting based on what they heard in the media. Bully is far from any of that...In fact, it's a fantastic game with an equally fantastic story and memorable characters. It's not "Grand Theft Auto with children" like so many thought it would be. It's a game all its own, and one that really should be experienced by anyone who comes across a copy.

Release Date: July 19, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

Final Fantasy X was the beginning of me no longer being a Final Fantasy fan...At least in terms of new games. Don't get me wrong, I like Final Fantasy X...But when I had just played the previous several Final Fantasy games and loved them, simply "liking" a game in the Final Fantasy series feels like the game fell short. Anyway, I enjoy the actual gameplay...monster collecting and blitzball sucked way too much time out of me. This is still a solid RPG and very good, but it falls short of being great, in my opinion. And by losing small things like an open world to explore, this was the game that started moving Final Fantasy away from what fans of the series wanted, I feel. Whether that's true or not, this is still a solid RPG and well worth playing for any RPG fan.

Release Date: July 20, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Yuke's
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

When Yuke's released Wrestling Kingdom on the Playstation 2, they basically took the WWE Day of Reckoning engine, removed some of the arcadey aspects, added a few more realistic aspects, and created a very entertaining wrestling game. There are plenty of game modes to enjoy, including a mode where you're a young boy working your way up the New Japan roster with Masa Chono guiding you along the way. It looks wonderful graphically and it plays nice and smooth. A few minor issues prevent it from being part of the top, elite wrestling games, but it's still very much a worthwhile import for any wrestling fan looking for something a little different from when we're used to getting here in North America.

Release Date: September 26, 2002 (JP)
Publisher: NEC Interchannel
Developer: NEC Interchannel
Genre: Board

Culdcept is a game that I try not to play often - not because it's bad, but because I have a hard time putting it down once I start. The most basic way I can describe Culdcept is that it's like Monopoly with monster fights. Basically, you roll the dice, move around the board and place creatures on the empty space you land on. If you land on a space that has a creature of one of your opponents on it, you can choose to pay the fee, like in Monopoly when you land on a property, or choose a creature in your deck of cards to do battle and try to take the space over. It's probably not for everyone, but I'm a pretty big fan of the game, personally. If you're a fan of Monopoly, you might get a kick out of playing this variation of the Monopoly formula.

Release Date: December 27, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Platformer

It had been a long wait, but at the end of 2001, the wait was over - a new Ghosts 'N Goblins game had arrived in the form of Maximo: Ghosts to Glory...And it was 3D, to boot. Maximo was a very solid platformer that never really seemed to get the attention it deserved. The game was never really a big hit sales-wise, despite solid reviews, which brings a tear to my eye because it really was an enjoyable experience to play it. Solid controls, solid platforming and combat, and bits of humor tossed it make it a game well worth playing. Plus, for all the perverted lady folk, the crumbling armor returns, so you may see the protagonist prancing around in his boxers if you so desire.

Release Date: November 4, 2002 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Insomniac Games
Genre: Platformer

Much like how I enjoyed the Spyro games over the Crash Bandicoot games on the original Playstation, I enjoy Ratchet & Clank more than Jak & Daxter on the Playstation 2. The humor and personality of the original three Spyro games carries over to Ratchet & Clank, really making it clear that the developers are one and the same. The game also has a lot of explosions, and quite frankly, explosions almost always make things better.

Release Date: November 16, 2002 (NA)
Publisher: Midway
Developer: Midway
Genre: Fighting

I was mildly a fan of Mortal Kombat II when I was a kid, so I wasn't too excited about Deadly Alliance...And then I played it and instantly fell in love. The abilities to swap between three fighting styles on the fly during the fight and even lodge weapons in your opponent to make them bleed out and slowly lose health for the rest of the battle were awesome new gameplay mechanics for a fighting game. The Krypt's luck-based way of unlocking stuff kept me playing this game much, much longer than I normally would have and the Konquest mode was a neat addition as well. More recent Mortal Kombat games have improved on the fighting and added better extras and modes, but for its time, Deadly Alliance was a must-have fighting game. It's still quite good today.

Release Date: November 11, 2005 (EU)
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

I feel like THQ slipped a bit when Smackdown vs. Raw came out. It was a very obvious step backwards from Here Comes the Pain. With WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2006, the franchise started to take steps forward again. While not as good as Here Comes the Pain, SvR 2006 does introduce Buried Alive and Fulfill Your Fantasy matches as well as the first variation of GM Mode, which is a fun mode for the fantasy bookers among us, but it's very flawed. Overall, this is a decent addition to the WWE franchise, but a more polished GM Mode would have likely made me bump this game up the list a little bit higher.

Release Date: March 30, 2000 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Fighting

Ridge Racer V was the first game that I bought when I got a Playstation 2. This was number two...And I played the heck out of it. Tekken Tag Tournament is kind of like a side game in the series, with nearly every playable character in previous Tekken games available to play as in tag-team fighting competition. The tag team aspect is fun and adds a new element to the fighting. There are also modes to unlock like one of my favorites, Tekken Bowling, which just add even more replay value to an already good game. I highly recommend it fans of fighting games and/or fans of decent and odd bowling games...well, after you unlock Tekken Bowling, of course.

Release Date: October 31, 2002 (NA)
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

Shut Your Mouth was a big step up from Just Bring It in the Smackdown franchise. Not only was the action all improved, but the season mode aspect was a major step up from the one found in Just Bring It. Also, a plethora of new talent invade this game, making potential match-ups feel very fresh. While it's not quite as good as Smackdown 2, in my opinion, Shut Your Mouth was easily the second best game in the franchise when it came out and the best wrestling game on the PS2 until Here Comes the Pain came out.

Release Date: March 22, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Platformer

Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil is the sequel to the largely ignored Klonoa: Door to Phantomile on the original Playstation. It's mostly an improvement in just about every way. The game contained a few minor, new gameplay elements and some beautiful, colorful graphics for the time that really made some of the levels come alive. It also took the Super Mario Bros. 3 approach of selecting the levels you wish to play on a world map. This may be the best "2.5 D" platformer that I've ever played...Even if I can probably count on one hand the number I've played.

Release Date: July 31, 2003 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Deep Space
Genre: Adventure - Horror

I like this game. A lot. Hungry Ghosts is a first-person survival horror game - but not your typical one. You're equipped with a spear and a crossbow and make your way into the underworld to encounter ghastly creatures. Having a spear to stab oncoming enemies in the face is kind of fun. It's also fun using the spear to shatter any and all breakable objects in your path to see what you find inside. It's also interesting investigating things as you come across them, too. If you're into survival horror, then this is definitely a PS2 game worth importing from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Release Date: July 7, 2005 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Now Production
Genre: Action

I absolutely fell in love with the original Katamari Damacy. When We Love Katamari came out, I was rushing to the store to get it. While it added plenty of new level types, all of which were fun and added another layer to the Katamari formula, it still somehow felt like I'd already played this before. That's not necessarily a bad thing - but with its higher price tag than the original, it did make it difficult for me to score it higher. Whether it felt like I played it before or not, it doesn't matter. It's a Katamari game, thus I'm madly in love with it.

Release Date: January 25, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Adventure

Take the early Resident Evil games, toss 'em in a blender with Japanese folklore and you've got yourself Onimusha: Warlords, the first PS2 title to hit one million copies sold. It was one of the best early PS2 titles with beautiful scenery and interesting enemy designs mixed with fun gameplay and a nifty story. The only major gripe I've had with the game is that the Resident Evil tank-like controls work fine when the combat isn't exactly fast, like against zombies. In Onimusha, however, there's a lot of sword fighting going on, and the tank controls are very awkward to use when trying to hit-and-move some of the enemies. Overall, though, there's a reason this game sold so well - it's really good. Give it a try.

Release Date: October 11, 2007 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Examu
Genre: Fighting

Arcana Heart is an all-female, 2D fighting game. It's got a unique system called the "arcana" system, which is essentially like a second move set that the player gets to choose prior to the fight. So if you really like one arcana over the others, you can pretty much pick that arcana with every fighter and you'll always have at least a few moves that you'll be able to use regardless of the fighter that you're playing as. Of course, you could also use the arcana system to vary things up a bit, too. It's a very solid fighting game and worthy of a place on the shelf of any fighting game fan.

Release Date: June 22, 2004 (NA)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Atomic Planet Entertainment
Genre: Compilation

Mega Man: Anniversary Collection has all 8 (at the time) Mega Man games that had been released in one disk, along with the two Mega Man arcade fighters - Mega Man Power Battle and Mega Man Power Fighters. I've noticed most folks have one of two reactions to this compilation...One is absolutely loving it, and playing through until they've mastered each game. The other is immediate frustration and hatred to the games for being "too hard." A little patience goes a long way in these titles. Learning the level layouts and enemy patterns is essential to making it to the end. Without that, you'll likely end up using language that would make sailors blush directed towards the game. Personally, I love these games and having them all on one fancy little disk makes my heart glow.

Release Date: September 30, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Sammy Studios
Developer: Arc System Works
Genre: Fighting

Guilty Gear X was a superb fighting game on the Dreamcast, released only in Japan, so when it was announced that North America would be getting the opportunity to play it via their Playstation 2's, I was pretty happy. As a college kid, I couldn't afford to buy it, but a friend of mine whom I've since lost contact with, a male model named Ryann (the extra 'n' was so potential employers would remember him better...if you're reading this, Ryann, how've you been, amgio?) picked it up, as he was a fighting game fanatic, and we'd gather a group of friends and battle each other in this gem and in Tekken Tag Tournament. He generally destroyed everyone with me usually putting up a fairly decent fight, but often (but not always) falling prey to his superior skills in the fighting genre. With that story out of the way, Guilty Gear X is a great 2D fighter that plays wonderfully and looks just as good as it plays. It can feel chaotic at times when playing, but I find that to be part of the fun. If you missed playing this gem on the Dreamcast, and you love 2D fighting games, you should really track the PS2 version down. You won't regret it.

Release Date: July 15, 2004 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne was a great RPG on the Playstation 2, but it was less about the story and more about the gameplay. Digital Devil Saga goes the opposite route, focusing more on the story aspects. The wide array of demons that you'd expect to be here are here, but only as enemies. There's no demon collecting or fusing to be found here. While that may be a disappointment to some, this is still a very solid RPG, with plenty of hidden bosses and the like to keep you busy for quite a long time.

Release Date: October 3, 2002 (JP)
Publisher: Natsume
Developer: Punchline
Genre: Adventure

It took five years after its Japanese release before Chulip finally made it to North America...And while it's not the greatest game in the world, for me it was well worth the wait. I absolutely LOVE this game. For those not in the know, Chulip is an adventure game where you're a love-sick boy that wants a girl to love him as much as he loves her. In order to woo her, you must wander around and gain "experience" by kissing random residents of the town. Some you can simply kiss, while others require you to help them in some way, and not always obvious ways, before they'll share a liplock of passion with you. The music alone would make me fall in love with this game...Like the game itself, the melodies you hear are bizarre but downright charming. It's a pretty slow-paced game, and very likely too slow for some, but if you like the bizarre and have patience for a slow game, you'll likely fall in love with this game as well.

Release Date: March 31, 2003 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Aki
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

I'm not a fan of hip-hop in the slightest. So when I saw that there was a wrestling game coming out featuring rappers, I rolled my eyes. However, once I began to play it, I really started to enjoy it. The game feels like an arcadey-version of the N64 Aki wrestling titles and it works quite well. I honestly don't remember a whole lot about the story, but I do remember absolutely loving every minute that I spent playing this game. If you like wrestling titles, this is definitely a game that you shouldn't overlook.

Release Date: July 18, 2002 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Action

I was a huge fan of the original Ape Escape on Playstation One. There really wasn't anything else like it before, and the analog control scheme was something new and it worked well. Ape Escape 2 continues on with the ape-catching goodness of the original, but some magic is lost the second time around. First off, the gameplay idea and control scheme wasn't new or innovative anymore. Sure, it's still fun, but it still feels like more of the same. There are some new ideas here, like boss fights and new gadgets, but if you'd caught your fill of apes in the original, there might not be much here to have brought you back for more. If you'd never played the original, Ape Escape 2 was a nice place to start.

Release Date: February 23, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: M2
Genre: Compilation

Any compilation with Gunstar Heroes in it is automatically a worthwhile purchase, in my opinion. Toss in two more Treasure Genesis games in the platformer Treasure put out called Dynamite Headdy and the Japan-only action game known as Alien Soldier, and you've got a nice little compilation of Treasure games from Sega's 16-bit system. Gunstar Heroes, of course, would be the main reason to pick this compilation up. The other two games are just a nice bonus.

Release Date: December 18, 2003 (JP)
Publisher: Bandai
Developer: Infinity
Genre: Sports - Golf

Ribbit King is a unique take on golf involving mallets instead of golf clubs and frogs instead of balls...It's called frolf, for those keeping track at home. Known as Kero King in Japan, this is the first entry of the franchise in North America, and unfortunately, the only entry as well. It's good, comedic fun and the story mode has some nice gags in the cut scenes as well. If you like golf, but would enjoy a comedic, unique take on the sport, then Ribbit King is a great game to play. It's not perfect, but its still very good. I highly recommend it.

Release Date: March 9, 2004 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts
Genre: Sports - Baseball

Without having played MVP Baseball 2005 yet, I can honestly say that up until I played MLB 10: The Show on Playstation 3, MVP Baseball 2004 was the best baseball game that I had ever played. Working my way up to the big leagues from the minors was an absolute blast, and other little aspects like alternate uniforms and the like created the most fun I had with a baseball game since World Series Baseball '98 hit the Saturn. I've heard that MVP Baseball 2005 is even better than 2004, but until I get the opportunity to confirm that, I'll make the claim that this is the best baseball game that I've played on the Xbox.

Release Date: November 21, 2004 (NA)
Publisher: O3 Entertainment
Developer: The Behemoth
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

Alien Hominid is a pretty dang good throwback to the 8 and 16-bit days of scrolling shooters, with enough of its own personality and charm shining through to make it a little different. This is mostly your standard run-and-gun shooter, but with a few features like charging your shots or burrowing underground to surprise attack your enemy added in to keep the game from feeling like some sort of clone. If you're a fan of older games with challenge, you'll fall in love with Alien Hominid. Get it and enjoy.

Release Date: January 19, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Punchline
Genre: Adventure - Horror

This is kind of a shocker to me...I never realized until putting this list together that Punchline developed two of my favorite "not great but I love 'em anyway" games in Rule of Rose and Chulip. Anyway, Rule of Rose is very flawed in the gameplay department...Mostly in the way of combat. The combat is clunky and unresponsive. One could argue that since Jennifer, the main character, is a timid young girl that probably fights similar to how the game controls, the unresponsive combat is acceptable. If that was the case, I get it, but the unresponsiveness of controls in combat make it feel more like poor coding in development rather than a planned aspect to the game engine. That complaint out of the way, I love the story found in this game. It's dark and psychological with plenty of little subtle touches...And I absolutely loved the ending. There's a reason that this game has garnered a cult following - what it lacks in gameplay, it makes up for in story.

Release Date: September 14, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Clover Studio
Genre: Action - Brawler

God Hand is just about everything I could ask for in a video game - high difficulty, humor, and bizarre situations. If the gameplay was a tad smoother and the camera a tad better, I probably would give it an even higher score, but much of the score I've given God Hand is based on pure entertainment value - something that makes you continue to play even after dying over and over and over again. That entertainment drives you to overcome the difficulty so you can see what happens next. With it currently available on the Playstation Network as a PS2 Classic, if you've got a PS3 and are up for an entertaining challenge, purchasing God Hand is money very well spent.

Release Date: September 21, 2000 (JP)
Publisher: Working Designs
Developer: Treasure
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

Silpheed: The Lost Planet is a decent little scrolling, third-person shooter brought to North American shores thanks to the wonderful folks at Working Designs. It's a very solid, very beautiful shooter with various weapons to unlock and use, along with "refuel" stations to break up the combat in each level, which allow you to swap weapons for the appropriate situations. It seemed to be largely ignored upon release, which is a shame 'cause this really is a worthwhile game to play - especially if you're into scrolling shooters.